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Emergency services remain at the scene today, and are attempting to make the building safe so that the search and rescue operation can continue this morning. Sniffer dogs are also being used in the effort to locate anyone who might have survived the blast.

Matt Cane, of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “When emergency services got to the site there was a significant fire in the building and significant building collapse.

Scene this morning of last night's explosion and fire in Hinckley Road (Image: Jason Senior /Redpix)

“Crews have been working through the night to extinguish the flames and specialist search teams are currently on the scene.”

Responding to a question regarding whether the cause of the blast was a gas leak, he said: “It’s too early to say at the moment but we will conduct a full and thorough investigation with the police once the search and rescue operation is complete.